Maybe this is why Italy is so expensive!

A “significant proportion” of the city’s bars and restaurants are now operating two or even three price lists: one for tourists, another for locals, and a third for “sympathetic” tourists who make more effort than the usual grunted demands.

“There are different pricing levels,” said Franco Conte, the head of the Venetian branch of Codacons, the Italian consumer rights group.

“If you are Italian, a croissant and a cappuccino costs €3.50 (£2.40),” he said. “If you speak another language, it costs €7.

“In restaurants, a pizza and a drink for two people costs between €20 to €25 for locals, perhaps cheaper for Venetians – but €50 to €60 if you are forestieri.” In Italy, the word forestieri applies to all strangers, who are said to be “from the forest”.

The solution? Brush up on some Italian phrases, according to the article….